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Alumni Stories: Haley Wadel (International Studies Graduate 2016)

August 31, 2016

As an International Studies major at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), I completed option B which focused on Economic Development and was also able to easily pick up Economics as a second major. After my first semester, I attended a seminar course at the United Nations in New York offered by UWM. This experience assured me of my choice in majors and only expanded my interest in the fields of economic development, foreign policy and international law.

Once in my junior year, I began to look for an internship that would help me identify a solid career path. Through the help of my advisors, I was able to land an international trade internship with the U.S. Department of Commerce. This internship exposed me to the world of international trade and has put me in touch with some of the most competent and helpful individuals in the field, greatly expanding my professional network.

The summer between my junior and senior year I studied abroad, participating in the World Economics Program. Through this program I lived in Barcelona, Spain for a month and studied the Spanish Economy in the European Union. Studying abroad provided me with immense personal growth, strengthened my leadership skills, and broadened my worldview.

My final semester at UWM provided me with another internship with Generac Power Systems in Waukesha, WI. This internship was also focused on international trade, but from the viewpoint of a manufacturing company versus the government. I graduated from UWM in May 2016 with a double major in International Studies and Economics with a minor in Political Science.

Currently, I reside in Detroit and work with AM General in their International Trade Compliance department. I specifically focus on export licensing and working with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. I plan to attend law school next fall and receive a JD in International Trade Law. I would like to open my own International Trade Consulting firm and work with companies all over the world.

The advisors at UWM and the opportunities they provide students with have proved to be invaluable to me. Their support and guidance has helped shape me into the person I am today and has provided me with the tools to be successful in my career and inspire others to be as well. Thank you UWM!